MICRORNA EXPRESSION IN STROKE PATHOGENESIS

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and adult disability worldwide. Recent studies on microRNAs have suggested that microRNAs may be developed as the novel diagnostics, prognostics and therapeutics for stroke management. To understand the microRNA expression in stroke pathogenesis, in this study embolic stroke model was created to mimic a clinical cerebral ischemic condition and microRNA profiling from acute to recovery phases of cerebral ischemia was carried out. In-depth functional study was performed to understand the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a gene in in vitro as well as in vivo ischemic condition. It implied that microRNAs could be used as the potential therapeutic targets upon cerebral ischemia. microRNA expression profile was further studied in blood of human stroke patients. Commonly expressed microRNAs in both animal models and human patients were investigated and these microRNAs may be used as potential biomarkers and therapeutic agents/targets in cerebral ischemia.